Animating Therapeutic Macrocyclic Peptide Discovery Platform

Animating Therapeutic Macrocyclic Peptide Discovery Platform

Client:

Animating NHRF’s Microcyclic Peptide Discovery

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NHRF conducts high-quality scientific research with the aim of contributing to scientific and technological progress. Through research activities at various Institutes, the NHRF seeks to develop and apply innovative solutions in critical fields of biology, chemistry, and physics, such as health, energy, materials, and biotechnology.

NHRF conducts high-quality scientific research with the aim of contributing to scientific and technological progress. Through research activities at various Institutes, the NHRF seeks to develop and apply innovative solutions in critical fields of biology, chemistry, and physics, such as health, energy, materials, and biotechnology.

Client:

Project Goal

Project Goal

Project Goal

Project Goal

The objective of this project and its accompanying animation is to depict the innovative research sponsored by the NHRF and conducted by the research group of Georgios Skretas at the Institute for Bioinnovation. This group is developing a bacterial platform for the discovery and screening of therapeutic macrocyclic peptides (macrocycles) for the potential treatment of protein aggregation–related diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.


This approach involves the creation of bacterial libraries in which each bacterium synthesizes a distinct macrocycle that promotes the formation of specific protein aggregates. By systematically evaluating these aggregates, researchers can identify macrocycles that effectively inhibit pathological protein misfolding and aggregation—hallmarks of neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Promising candidates emerging from this process undergo further validation and testing as potential drug therapies, contributing to advances in disease prediction and treatment.

See full animation.

The objective of this project and its accompanying animation is to depict the innovative research sponsored by the NHRF and conducted by the research group of Georgios Skretas at the Institute for Bioinnovation. This group is developing a bacterial platform for the discovery and screening of therapeutic macrocyclic peptides (macrocycles) for the potential treatment of protein aggregation–related diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.


This approach involves the creation of bacterial libraries in which each bacterium synthesizes a distinct macrocycle that promotes the formation of specific protein aggregates. By systematically evaluating these aggregates, researchers can identify macrocycles that effectively inhibit pathological protein misfolding and aggregation—hallmarks of neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Promising candidates emerging from this process undergo further validation and testing as potential drug therapies, contributing to advances in disease prediction and treatment.

See full animation.

The objective of this project and its accompanying animation is to depict the innovative research sponsored by the NHRF and conducted by the research group of Georgios Skretas at the Institute for Bioinnovation. This group is developing a bacterial platform for the discovery and screening of therapeutic macrocyclic peptides (macrocycles) for the potential treatment of protein aggregation–related diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes.


This approach involves the creation of bacterial libraries in which each bacterium synthesizes a distinct macrocycle that promotes the formation of specific protein aggregates. By systematically evaluating these aggregates, researchers can identify macrocycles that effectively inhibit pathological protein misfolding and aggregation—hallmarks of neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. Promising candidates emerging from this process undergo further validation and testing as potential drug therapies, contributing to advances in disease prediction and treatment.

See full animation.

Visualization of the human body alongside normally folded and misfolded proteins

Visualization of the normally folded and misfolded proteins

Human brain and nervous system

Transposases active site shown as ribbons inside the molecular complex
Transposases active site shown as ribbons inside the molecular complex

Bacteria producing macrocyclic peptides

Bacteria producing macrocyclic peptides

“Great animations and fast turnaround - Highly recommended!”

“Great animations and fast turnaround - Highly recommended!”

“Great animations and fast turnaround - Highly recommended!”

Patrick Hsu

Director of Institute for Bio-innovation


Engineered bacteria fix misfolded proteins

Engineered bacteria fix misfolded proteins

Identified Florescent Microbes
Identified Florescent Microbes

Identified Florescent Microbes

Flow Cytometric Cell Sorting

Flow Cytometric Cell Sorting

Flow Cytometric Cell Sorting

The Process

The Process

The Process

The Process

Animation type:

High-End 3D

Project timline:

7 weeks

Review:

3 zoom calls + 4 e-mail feedback sessions

Team:

Find out which of our 26 scientific animation options works best for investor relations and communications:

The animation was developed under budget constraints and a tight production timeline, requiring a cost-effective yet scientifically precise approach suitable for both academic collaborators and industry partners. To achieve this, we used high-end 3D for key molecular scenes, depicting detailed aggregates and their disintegration, with GFP proteins luminescing to highlight bacterial identification.


DECK 3D provided high visual quality and was partially based on static renders to optimize production efficiency. A semi-static 3D animation approach helped maintain scientific accuracy while remaining within budget. In addition, flow cytometric cell-sorting visualizations were incorporated to clarify the processes of selection and isolation.


Semi-Static 3D for Cost Efficiency: Instead of fully dynamic molecular animation, the core scientific visuals were created as high-fidelity, scientifically accurate static 3D renderings. Key molecular structures and cellular environments were modeled in detail but remained largely static.


Layered 2D Motion Elements: To enhance storytelling, subtle 2D animations, overlays, and informational callouts were added to highlight molecular interactions and guide viewers through the scientific process. This hybrid approach enabled a compelling narrative while optimizing production time and cost.


High-Precision Molecular Modeling for Key Scenes: While the broader visualization relied on a semi-static 3D approach, select molecular interactions were modeled in full detail using molecular simulations, ensuring that critical scientific aspects were captured with high accuracy.


This cost-conscious strategy made it possible to deliver an animation that met rigorous scientific standards while remaining within the budgetary and time constraints of an early-stage research initiative.

Why did we use this
animation type?

Why did we use this
animation type?

By leveraging a combination of high-end 3D and DECK 3D, we ensured that the animation was both visually compelling and scientifically precise. High-end 3D brought molecular interactions to life through detailed modeling, while DECK 3D optimized rendering costs without sacrificing clarity. The integration of flow cytometric cell-sorting visualizations further enhanced the animation’s ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively.

This careful selection of animation techniques resulted in an engaging, informative, and cost-efficient final product.

Outcome:

The final animation successfully illustrated the scientific foundation and potential impact of the research, providing a powerful visual tool for engaging stakeholders across academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. This project demonstrates how early-stage research groups and non-commercial organizations can leverage scientific visualization to communicate discoveries, attract potential collaborators, and lay the groundwork for future commercialization. It also reinforces our ability to adapt animation techniques to the unique needs and budgets of academic institutions, startups, and research organizations.

By utilizing a flexible animation pipeline, similar to our work for ARC Institute, we demonstrated how even fundamental research—long before clinical trials or commercial application—can benefit from precisely designed visual storytelling that bridges the gap between scientific complexity and stakeholder engagement.

The final animation successfully illustrated the scientific foundation and potential impact of the research, providing a powerful visual tool for engaging stakeholders across academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. This project demonstrates how early-stage research groups and non-commercial organizations can leverage scientific visualization to communicate discoveries, attract potential collaborators, and lay the groundwork for future commercialization. It also reinforces our ability to adapt animation techniques to the unique needs and budgets of academic institutions, startups, and research organizations.

By utilizing a flexible animation pipeline, similar to our work for ARC Institute, we demonstrated how even fundamental research—long before clinical trials or commercial application—can benefit from precisely designed visual storytelling that bridges the gap between scientific complexity and stakeholder engagement.

The final animation successfully illustrated the scientific foundation and potential impact of the research, providing a powerful visual tool for engaging stakeholders across academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. This project demonstrates how early-stage research groups and non-commercial organizations can leverage scientific visualization to communicate discoveries, attract potential collaborators, and lay the groundwork for future commercialization. It also reinforces our ability to adapt animation techniques to the unique needs and budgets of academic institutions, startups, and research organizations.

By utilizing a flexible animation pipeline, similar to our work for ARC Institute, we demonstrated how even fundamental research—long before clinical trials or commercial application—can benefit from precisely designed visual storytelling that bridges the gap between scientific complexity and stakeholder engagement.

The final animation successfully illustrated the scientific foundation and potential impact of the research, providing a powerful visual tool for engaging stakeholders across academia, biotechnology, and the pharmaceutical industry. This project demonstrates how early-stage research groups and non-commercial organizations can leverage scientific visualization to communicate discoveries, attract potential collaborators, and lay the groundwork for future commercialization. It also reinforces our ability to adapt animation techniques to the unique needs and budgets of academic institutions, startups, and research organizations.

By utilizing a flexible animation pipeline, similar to our work for ARC Institute, we demonstrated how even fundamental research—long before clinical trials or commercial application—can benefit from precisely designed visual storytelling that bridges the gap between scientific complexity and stakeholder engagement.

Full animation

Full animation

Full animation

Full animation

Contact us

Contact us

Contact us

Contact us

Visual Science is an award-winning medical animation and digital scientific communications company, trusted by leading biotech and pharmaceutical organizations since 2007, including J&J, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Takeda, Gilead, AbbVie, and 100+ others.

We specialize in science-grade MoA and MoD videos, medical animation, and scientific storytelling, as well as digital and AI-driven solutions for Medical Affairs, marketing, corporate communications, and investor relations.

Contacts

US toll-free

1 888 374-16-95

NY

1 516 340-37-30

London

44 20 3734-2517

Address

200 Vesey Street, 24th floor,
New York, NY 10281, USA

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© 2026, Visual Science. All rights reserved.

Privacy policy & Cookie policy

Visual Science is an award-winning medical animation and digital scientific communications company, trusted by leading biotech and pharmaceutical organizations since 2007, including J&J, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Takeda, Gilead, AbbVie, and 100+ others.

We specialize in science-grade MoA and MoD videos, medical animation, and scientific storytelling, as well as digital and AI-driven solutions for Medical Affairs, marketing, corporate communications, and investor relations.

Contacts

US toll-free

1 888 374-16-95

NY

1 516 340-37-30

London

44 20 3734-2517

Address

200 Vesey Street, 24th floor,
New York, NY 10281, USA

Social networks

LinkedIn Logo
Vimeo Logo

© 2026, Visual Science. All rights reserved.

Privacy policy & Cookie policy

Visual Science is an award-winning medical animation and digital scientific communications company, trusted by leading biotech and pharmaceutical organizations since 2007, including J&J, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Takeda, Gilead, AbbVie, and 100+ others.

We specialize in science-grade MoA and MoD videos, medical animation, and scientific storytelling, as well as digital and AI-driven solutions for Medical Affairs, marketing, corporate communications, and investor relations.

Contacts

US toll-free

1 888 374-16-95

NY

1 516 340-37-30

London

44 20 3734-2517

Address

200 Vesey Street, 24th floor,
New York, NY 10281, USA

Social networks

LinkedIn Logo
Vimeo Logo

© 2026, Visual Science. All rights reserved.

Privacy policy & Cookie policy

Visual Science is an award-winning medical animation and digital scientific communications company, trusted by leading biotech and pharmaceutical organizations since 2007, including J&J, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, Takeda, Gilead, AbbVie, and 100+ others.

We specialize in science-grade MoA and MoD videos, medical animation, and scientific storytelling, as well as digital and AI-driven solutions for Medical Affairs, marketing, corporate communications, and investor relations.

Contacts

US toll-free

1 888 374-16-95

NY

1 516 340-37-30

London

44 20 3734-2517

Address

200 Vesey Street, 24th floor, New York, NY 10281, USA

© 2026, Visual Science. All rights reserved.

Privacy policy & Cookie policy

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Visual Science Logo
Visual Science Logo